What I Learned from the Lubavitcher Rebbe

Out of the blue, the Rebbe summoned me. He wanted to send me on a challenging mission.

Changing the course of Jewish history is a feat accomplished by but a few truly remarkable giants. To his hundreds of thousands of followers and to his admirers around the world, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of blessed memory, is considered to have been the most phenomenal Jewish personality of modern times. His “shluchim,” the messengers he appointed to serve Jews and Jewish communities in far-flung corners of the world desperately in need of spiritual guidance and the wherewithal to lead religiously observant lives, have helped immeasurably to revitalize post-Holocaust Jewry.

On the 20th anniversary of his death, a number of books have just recently appeared that describe in great detail the incredible scope of the Rebbe’s achievements. They make fascinating reading. But what I would wish to share with you is a personal experience that allowed me not only to recognize his greatness but to be granted an insight which changed my life.

The year was 1989. I had just been granted a sabbatical both from my congregation as well as my teaching position at Yeshiva University. My plan was to go to Israel, to learn and to write. I was totally unprepared for a call from the Lubavitch office telling me that the Rebbe wanted to meet with me privately to send me on a mission.

I had no previous relationship with Lubavitch. I couldn’t imagine what the Rebbe possibly had in mind for me. Perhaps, I thought, it was a case of mistaken identity. After all, I am clean-shaven, of knitted yarmulke headgear and modern garb, and hardly can be mistaken for a typical Hassid. “Are you sure you have the right number?” I asked.

“Yes, of course,” they assured me, “we know everything about you. And the Rebbe does want to see you.”

So I went and what the Rebbe had in mind stunned me. It seemed far beyond my capabilities. But I was sufficiently in awe of his almost supernatural saintliness to agree without further question.

“But are there religious Jews there?” The Rebbe just smiled, and then he added three words: “There will be.”

I was to go, as per his instructions, to the Far East – to Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Bangkok and Tokyo. In all of these places his representatives would set up meeting places and arrange for people to come listen to me lecture on Jewish themes, to be educated and to be inspired.

I asked the obvious question. “But are there religious Jews there?” The Rebbe just smiled, and then he added three words: “There will be.”

What he taught me was the key to the entire success of his movement and his disciples. He explained to me that to be a good Jew means not only to have faith in God. At least as important is to have faith in fellow Jews.

We need to believe that within every Jew is a memory of that moment long ago at Sinai when the soul of every Jew was present and heard God give us the mission to be “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” We need to believe that the soul of every Jew feels its connection to the creator and craves to come closer to the Almighty, even more than the body desires physical sustenance. We need to believe that no Jew is ever lost if there is only someone who can help him find his way back to the inner longing of his neshamah, his soul.

Being a good Jew means having faith in God – and faith in fellow Jews as well.

In our generation there are more baalei teshuvah, returnees to Jewish tradition and observance, than at any other time in Jewish history. All because of those spiritual leaders whose faith in God was wedded to faith in those created in His image.

On a Mission

I went to all the places the Rebbe sent me. I was optimistic because the Rebbe told me it would be a mistake if I wasn’t. And thank God, because of my message – not because of me – I was successful in changing the lives of many who came to hear me and were searching for additional meaning in their lives.

When I returned I was given a message that the Rebbe wanted to see me once again. This time he wanted to give me a blessing. It was a moment I cherish to this day.

Part of the Rebbe’s greatness was that he did not judge me – or for that matter anyone else – by externals. He chose to judge people by their inner essence, by their spiritual connection to God, rather than by their outer appearance.

And that is a remarkable part of his legacy that all of us, whether we identify as his disciples or not, need to place in the forefront of our relationship with others. In a time of religious divisiveness that is all too often marked by hatred and unjustified animosity, we need to remind ourselves of the Torah’s profound truth that the Rebbe exemplified: Every Jew, no matter how seemingly secular or far removed from God, has within him or her a spark of the Divine. All we need to do is to feed that flame and, like the bush in which God first appeared to Moses, it will burn so strongly with the fire of faith that it will never be consumed.

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About the Author

Rabbi Benjamin Blech, a frequent contributor to Aish, is a Professor of Talmud at Yeshiva University and an internationally recognized educator, religious leader, and lecturer. Author of 14 highly acclaimed books with combined sales of over a half million copies, his newest, The World From A Spiritual Perspective, is a collection of over 100 of his best Aish articles. See his website at rabbibenjaminblech.com.

The opinions expressed in the comment section are the personal views of the commenters. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civil.

Visitor Comments: 27

(24)
Chaim Burman,
October 9, 2016 4:53 PM

Awesome!

Thanks for a great and inspiring article. Perfect reading as I prepare for Yom Kippur! Thank you!

(23)
Nancy,
June 26, 2015 11:57 AM

I am SO GLAD I found this article today!

Hello Rabbi--Your story has brought tears to my eyes. I don't know how I missed it last year, but I'm glad I found it today. Interestingly enough, the rebbe (z"l) is buried in a cemetery a few blocks from my childhood home. On a completely unrelated note, I hope that you return to Young Israel of Oceanside one day to give a presentation. Please feel free to email me if you have plans to do so in the future. I also hope you are currently in good health.

(22)
BG,
June 19, 2015 11:01 PM

Excellent article!

Thank you for sharing this beautiful article and story. As the people below stated, Aish and Chabad are a major help for hundreds of thousands if not millions of people. You guys should have millions of visitors every month.

(21)
DGould,
July 20, 2014 9:15 PM

Thanks for Recognizing the Rebbe's work

Two great organization helping Jews around the world. Aish and Chabad.

(20)
RICHARD ORTIZ,
July 17, 2014 3:17 PM

i have been reading on Rebbe Menachhem what a remarkable man!

(19)
Zev G,
July 4, 2014 7:14 PM

I am a Chabad BT and have long been a fan of aish.com. My grandmother remembers you, Rabbi Blech, from Young Israel of Oceanside when you were a rabbi just starting out. Although not observant, my grandmother grew up in Brooklyn in the 1940s with very little Jewish education and very little exposure to orthodox Jews. The interactions she did have were parve at best and she always got the sense that they were cold and judgmental of her for knowing so little about the Jewish religion. You were the first and (one of the only) orthodox rabbis with whom she has had a positive experience. She remembers you fondly. Thank you for your Kiddush Hashem.

(18)
joyce lederstein,
July 4, 2014 3:46 AM

Rabbi Blech I remember your adult education classes that you gave in the shul when you came back from your Sabbatical

On this 20th yahrezeit of the Rebbe I have mentioned just recently of you wonderful Sabbatical that you were privledged to go on. I remember vividly attending your classes at the Young Israel Of Oceanside discussing each week all the places you had visited. I remember how you described New Zealand. I also remembered how you explained to us the halacha problems with little Buddahs at entrances. Thank you for this beautiful article. It brought back wonderful memories.

(17)
Em,
July 3, 2014 12:49 AM

Thank you

I am a lubavitcher woman and i have been enjoying aish.com for a number of years.
I am touched that you have written this beautiful tribute to the Rebbe, may Hashem see this achdus and bring Moshiach now!

(16)
Anonymous,
July 2, 2014 3:34 AM

The Rebbe cared about all Jews even us in Australia!

Wonderful article aish.com thanks Rabbi Blech!, your aricle shows the love and concern The Rebbe had for all his 'diamonds' Jewish People all over the world even in far flung Australia!

Two incidents I remember of The Rebbe TZL ZYA:

1. My Rav told me in 1988 to ask The Rebbe where I should look for a Shidduch.I was fortunate enough for The Rebbe to answer me and told me to look in Australia my birthplace.Shortly afterwards my wife arrived back in Sydney! and we started going out.

2. Another time The Rebbe gave me smile and said to me in Yiddish "Zortzach nisht! and repeated in english " Don't worry!'i use to be a compulsive worrier and nowadays I try to live by this and things generally go better.

The Rebbe in distant Brookyln took the time to answer me a Jew in far flung Melbourne Australia.

(15)
David S. Levine,
July 2, 2014 12:26 AM

The Jewish World's Greatest Assets

The Chaban Schluchim are the Jewish World's greatest assets. Yes, there are the UJA fundraisers (who need speeches from Bill Clinton for which he is paid at least $200,000 a pop) etc. but the future of the Jewish world is in those will carry on Judaism. Here the Chabad movement comes into play because they will bring the Jewish World back to Judaism. If you are a Reform Jew, respect them. If you are to the right of the Reform movement, support them!

(14)
Dust Blessed By HaShem,
July 1, 2014 9:49 PM

Wonderful Rebbe and also an modest and Great Rabbi

It is wonderful to see Rabbi Benjamin Blech honoring the Rebbe. And previously the Rebbe asking Rabbi Blech to go reach out. Misnagdim and Chassidic, not divided by minhag or differences in interpretation, but simply Jews teaching and perusing the Truth of HaShem. Beautiful!

(13)
Patty ann Smith,
July 1, 2014 5:08 PM

Wonderful words of wisdom

Faith is the only thing that will get us favor with God, I love the comment "But are there religious Jews there?” The Rebbe just smiled, and then he added three words: “There will be.” These are WONDERFUL WORDS OF WISDOM.

(12)
Ra'anan,
July 1, 2014 2:44 PM

Aish & Chabad

Aish & Chabad both do a tremendous service by providing wonderful content online as well as having brick & mortar/flesh & blood personnel all over the planet. It's very heart-warming to see something Lubavitch on an Aish site! I feels very similar to the unity that is being felt now in Israel between the charedi & national religious camps, but Aish you've done it under fall more favourable circumstances & I highly commend you for that!

(11)
Uri Yitzchak,
July 1, 2014 2:22 PM

Being today the Rebbe's z'l 20th yahrzeit, may his memory and zechut be for a blessing for all of our people

(10)
Anonymous,
July 1, 2014 10:39 AM

thank you

Great point may we all learn to live by this day by day

(9)
Mordechai Shuali,
July 1, 2014 7:04 AM

We are all Giants, We are all Dwarfs

"Changing the course of Jewish history is a feat accomplished by but a few truly remarkable giants." It is a basic tenant of Torah-based thought that ALL Jews, based on the very fact they were created b'tzelem E-lokim and were chosen by HaShem to reveal His will in this world, change the course of history with every word they utter, every action taken, and every thought imagined.

"Part of the Rebbe’s greatness was that he did not judge me – or for that matter anyone else – by externals." You are perhaps making a mistake. He just as likely judged by externals, feeling that the clean shaven, knitted Yarmulke, and 'modern' dressed individual would be less of a turn-off to the listeners than a 'typical hasid'.

"All because of those spiritual leaders whose faith in God was wedded to faith in those created in His image." It possibly has at least a little to do with the prophesy of the end of time that all will return to Him and to His service.

"I was successful in changing the lives of many . . ." With tremendous siyata di'Shmaya and armed with the berachah from the Rebbe and no doubt his countless tefillos on my behalf, I merited to be the conduit for much success.

"In a time of religious divisiveness that is all too often marked by hatred and unjustified animosity . . . " Not being tolerant or remaining complacent of a fellow Jew's misdeeds, no matter how innocent of based on ignorance they are, does not mean he is hated. No more and no less than a parent who is disappointed by a child's misdeeds and tries everything within their power to educate and dedicate him/her in/to the right path. So too with the "modern/secular" Jew. We don't hate them. It is our love for them that hopes and prays they will return to and follow that spark within them.

ano,
July 2, 2014 1:58 AM

and what are you doing about it other then hoping and praying?

the rebbe taught us not only to cry, pray and hope but to go out there and show our fellow jews true ahavas chinom! and help them see the light of torah.

(8)
Aviva H.,
July 1, 2014 6:59 AM

Not my Rebbe

The Lubavitcher Chabad movement has done much good. However, they have also spread division amongst Jews with setting up Chabad houses in competition with local Orthodox synagogues in numerous towns throughout the world. Why not support the already established synagogue and rabbi instead? With some notable exceptions, I have seen this pattern again and again. Also, the Lubavitcher Rebbe is recognized by some as the messiah. I'll take the Rambam and the Vilna Gaon any day.

Nechama,
July 1, 2014 10:37 AM

Not a competition

Although it may appear that Chabad houses are competing for congregants with orthodox shuls, it is really not the case. In my experience their true role is in bringing back to Judaism the people who would otherwise have never set foot in a synagogue, orthodox or otherwise. They truly serve as a Jewish lifeline for people far removed from their faith. By the way, some of thos people will eventually join their local orthodox synagogues, after they grew and learned enough at Chabad to feel like they can "fit in" at the orthodox shul. By the way, if people are leaving the orthodox shul for Chabad, it may be the case that the shul is not meeting their spiritual needs. In this case the orthodox shul leadership should examine how it "does business" rather than blame Chabad.

Em,
July 3, 2014 12:47 AM

I personally know a shliach sent to a particular place in california who was told by the Rebbe not to start a shul, he sat in the back of the already existing shul all his life. He was living there to help yidden physically and spiritually but the Rebbe with his ruach hakodesh knew when it was/wasnt appropriate to have one's own shul.

that was intenselly inspiring and beautiful. How fortunate to have been given that connection!!!

(4)
dovid,
June 30, 2014 12:32 PM

inspiring

Thanks for sharing your heartwarming story and thanks for inspiring me today to try to live a bit more with the message of truly loving every Jew - no matter their external qualities, since looking deeper we're all one.

(3)
Anonymous,
June 30, 2014 7:31 AM

Thank you!

Your article, stories and analysis emphasize our primary work— to focus on the neshama/soul of each Jew instead of the external trappings.

Thank you. What merit you had to be connected to the Lubavitcher Rebbe - Ashrecha

(2)
Ron Levine,
June 29, 2014 4:34 PM

Rabbi Blech

And what a testimony to your greatness that the Rebbe chose you for this mission. Surely there were many other clean shaven rabbis in the world he could have called. Thank you rabbi for all you do and now I know that I am in exalted company in my admiration for your work.

(1)
Sharon,
June 29, 2014 9:48 AM

WOW

I never cease to be more impressed with the powers of the late Rebbe. He knew what was needed and probably assigned people to find the kind of talent he was looking for. He didn't limit himself to his own group. How different from the religious leaders we see today. So much to admire.

I've been striving to get more into spirituality. But it seems that every time I make some progress, I find myself slipping right back to where I started. I'm getting discouraged and feel like a failure. Can you help?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Spiritual slumps are a natural part of spiritual growth. There is a cycle that people go through when at times they feel closer to God and at times more distant. In the words of the Kabbalists, it is "two steps forward and one step back." So although you feel you are slipping, know that this is a natural process. The main thing is to look at your overall progress (over months or years) and be able to see how far you've come!

This is actually God's ingenious way of motivating us further. The sages compare this to teaching a baby how to walk. When the parent is holding on, the baby shrieks with delight and is under the illusion that he knows how to walk. Yet suddenly, when the parent lets go, the child panics, wobbles and may even fall.

At such times when we feel spiritually "down," that is often because God is letting go, giving us the great gift of independence. In some ways, these are the times when we can actually grow the most. For if we can move ourselves just a little bit forward, we truly acquire a level of sanctity that is ours forever.

Here is a practical tool to help pull you out of the doldrums. The Sefer HaChinuch speaks about a great principle in spiritual growth: "The external awakens the internal." This means that although we may not experience immediate feelings of closeness to God, eventually, by continuing to conduct ourselves in such a manner, this physical behavior will have an impact on our spiritual selves and will help us succeed. (A similar idea is discussed by psychologists who say: "Smile and you will feel happy.")

That is the power of Torah commandments. Even if we may not feel like giving charity or praying at this particular moment, by having a "mitzvah" obligation to do so, we are in a framework to become inspired. At that point we can infuse that act of charity or prayer with all the meaning and lift it can provide. But if we'd wait until being inspired, we might be waiting a very long time.

May the Almighty bless you with the clarity to see your progress, and may you do so with joy.

In 1940, a boatload 1,600 Jewish immigrants fleeing Hitler's ovens was denied entry into the port of Haifa; the British deported them to the island of Mauritius. At the time, the British had acceded to Arab demands and restricted Jewish immigration into Palestine. The urgent plight of European Jewry generated an "illegal" immigration movement, but the British were vigilant in denying entry. Some ships, such as the Struma, sunk and their hundreds of passengers killed.

If you seize too much, you are left with nothing. If you take less, you may retain it (Rosh Hashanah 4b).

Sometimes our appetites are insatiable; more accurately, we act as though they were insatiable. The Midrash states that a person may never be satisfied. "If he has one hundred, he wants two hundred. If he gets two hundred, he wants four hundred" (Koheles Rabbah 1:34). How often have we seen people whose insatiable desire for material wealth resulted in their losing everything, much like the gambler whose constant urge to win results in total loss.

People's bodies are finite, and their actual needs are limited. The endless pursuit for more wealth than they can use is nothing more than an elusive belief that they can live forever (Psalms 49:10).

The one part of us which is indeed infinite is our neshamah (soul), which, being of Divine origin, can crave and achieve infinity and eternity, and such craving is characteristic of spiritual growth.

How strange that we tend to give the body much more than it can possibly handle, and the neshamah so much less than it needs!